Kittie started dating her daughter’s boyfriend Butch when he was 17 years old. They apparently dated for over twenty years, during which time Kittie purchased him a house to “use.” Butch later moved into the house with his girlfriend Peaches. Butch and Peaches had a daughter Maggie. Butch was frequently physically abusive and often threatened
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“Hi, I Think Your Dad is Also My Dad”: Illegitimate Heirs – Fiduciaries
Mary Goodblood grew up believing that she was Cash Goodblood’s only daughter. Twenty-five years after he died, her dad’s brother Uncle Trusty sold the Goodblood family business for a tidy sum. After report of the lucrative sale was plastered on the front page of the local newspaper, Mary received a Facebook message from a stranger…
Lawyers and ChatGPT — Averting a Possible Disaster
Co-author Emily Morris*
Last month Tilting blogged about Peter LoDuca, Steven A. Schwartz and their New York law firm who New York Federal Judge Kevin Castel chastised for submitting non-existent judicial opinions with fake quotes and citations created by the artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT. Worse yet, they continued to stand by the fake opinions after…
Fireworks – Do Burn Bans Snuff Them?
Co-author Derek Younkers *
For the last 15 years, our Tilting the Scales article outlining the “Top 10 Texas Fireworks Laws” has been an explosive hit every July 4 and New Year’s. This year, especially with the excessive heat we’re experiencing, you may be wondering if your upcoming weekend fireworks extravaganza will be dampened by…
“Hi, I Think Your Dad is Also My Dad” – Inheritance Without a Will
Mary Goodblood grew up believing that she was the only daughter of Cash Goodblood. One day, 25 years after Cash died, and to no one’s surprise after the lucrative sale of the Goodblood family business was plastered on the front page of the local newspaper, Mary received a Facebook message from a woman named Désirée…
Legal Research Gone Wrong: A Cautionary Tale About Relying on ChatGPT
Claiming that he was injured when a metal serving cart struck his knee during a flight from El Salvador to New York in 2019, Robert Mata recently sued Avianca Airlines. Avianca filed a motion to dismiss in New York federal court arguing the lawsuit was too late; the statute of limitations had expired. Vehemently…
Illegitimate Heirs – Trust Language: “Hi, I Think Your Dad is also My Dad” – Part 2
Mary Goodblood grew up believing that she was the only daughter of Cash Goodblood. One day, 25 years after Cash died, and to no one’s surprise after the lucrative sale of the Goodblood family business was plastered on the front page of the local newspaper, Mary received a Facebook message from a woman named Désirée…
Illegitimate Heirs – Paternity: “Hi, I Think Your Dad is Also My Dad” – Part 1
Mary Goodblood grew up believing that she was the only daughter of Cash Goodblood. One day, 25 years after Cash died and ironically after the lucrative sale of the Goodblood family business was plastered on the front page of the local newspaper, Mary received a Facebook message from a woman named Desiree that said “Hi,…
Can Executors Keep Secrets From Beneficiaries?
Following the untimely death last year of his father Big Daddy Bux due to COVID-19, brother Hustler Bux was appointed independent executor of Big Daddy’s Will. When Hustler asked for a judicial discharge, sister Kathy “Kitten” – who had cared for both parents and still lived in the family home – objected complaining that Hustler…
Recording a Telephone Conversation in Texas
Michael is the owner of Phelps Sports & Outdoors, which carries a full range of sporting goods and apparel. Michael is anticipating a surge in interest in swimming after the widely televised and viewed Democracy Games, and wants to have the latest and most sought after swimming merchandise available. The Speezo LZB Speedster swimsuit is…